Go Light, Stay Tough, the Shimano Stradic MgFA

Total Score: 8.35 + BEST VALUE AWARD!

Introduction: The Shimano Stradic MgFA is the most affordable magnesium reel in the Shimano lineup, and is designed to offer anglers all the benefits of an Mg reel without the common drawbacks when it comes to durability. We examine how well this reel performs versus other shimano offerings positioned around the Stradic MgFA and what type of angler should really consider this reel.

The Stradic MgFA has a similar finish to it's predecessor

Impressions: When most anglers think Magnesium they think light, but another thought that often comes to mind is also “limitations.” These are the limitations when it comes to where and when you can fish a magnesium reel, as magnesium doesn’t hold up well in saltwater. Shimano wants to change all that with the Stradic MgFA, which makes use of a special protective coating that is designed to withstand corrosion from harsh environments. 

The reel features use of magnesium for weight reduction

The Stradic MgFA is uniquely positioned. While it is a member of the Stradic family which rests beneath the Sustain and above the Symetre, the Mg is one of only two magnesium based spinning reels in the entire Shimano lineup. Interestingly if you want to step up from the Stradic MgFA you need to bypass the Sustain series and head straight for the flagship Stella FB.

A look from the side shows the reel's sleek design

Real World Test: To test the Stradic MgFA we head to a number of Northern California lakes including Berryessa, Mc Clure, and Clear Lake for freshwater tests, and the mouth of the Delta for brackish water testing.

Zander tests the reel's casting attributes

In our tests we compared the Stradic MgFA to a number of other Shimano reels including the standard Stradic, the Sustain, and even the Stella. By fishing these reels side by side we could draw a better conclusion of where the Stradic MgFA makes sense, and if it is really worth the additional money over the standard Stradic.

The front...

Casting: The Stradic MgFA doesn’t cast any better or worse than the standard Stradic. Both feature a very even and consistent line lay, and when using a relatively flexible mono like Trilene XL we didn’t encounter any issues.